Keeping Your Focus On God

Sometimes in our daily life we allow things to get us off track. Allow situations or circumstances to take our focus off of God. God warned us of this in Matthew 14:22-33. Peter was an example for us today. To show us how easy it is to take our focus off of God if we are not careful. God warns us of this in Matthew 14:22-33. In this article I will share with you my thoughts below the bible verses.

Matthew 14:22
And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

Matthew 14:23
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Matthew14:24
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

The disciples were on the ship at sea. Christ was not in the ship with them. The waves are rough and tossing the ship around. Quite a scary situation we have here. How will the disciples handle it?

Matthew 14:25
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

I believe this fourth watch to be around three to six a.m.

Matthew 14:26
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

Spirit in the Greek means a phantasm. They thought it was an illusion. Got them shook up to see someone walking on the water.

Matthew 14:27
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Christ comforting them. Christ knew they were afraid and wanted them to know they had no reason to be afraid. God’s word comforts us today. God wants us not to be afraid, but to trust in Him. We have no reason to fear as long as we keep our focus on God and His word. God’s word comforts one and gives one peace of mind. We should not let anyone or anything shake our faith in God.

Matthew 14:28
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

Matthew 14:29
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Peter is trying to make sure this is Christ. Christ bid Peter to come to Him. To walk on the water. Peter did well when he kept his focus on Christ and did not doubt.

Matthew 14:30
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

Peter allowed the boisterous wind to take his focus off of Christ. He then began to sink and cry out for God to save him. Sometimes today we allow times of trouble or sickness to take our focus off of God. We begin to doubt and feel down. We refuse to focus on God and what God’s word has to say. This is when things begin to go down hill. God does not take His focus off of us, but we sometimes take our focus off of Him. God said, “He would never leave us nor forsake us.”

Matthew 14:31
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

When Peter cried out for Christ to save him Christ immediately stretched forth his hand to help. God is always attentive to our prayers. He hears our cry. He knows when we cry out if we have faith that God can help us or not. Faith in God is what influences God to answer our prayers, as noted in Matthew 21:22. God wants us to stay focused on Him. To believe in His word and His promises to us. To remove all doubt. To know that He is with us in the good times and the bad. That He will see us through, as noted in 1Corinthians 10:13.

Matthew 14:32
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

Matthew 14:33
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

When God is on our side we have nothing to fear. When God is with us and dwells within us we are going to make it. There will be rough times, but God will see us through. God is in control. God controls the weather. So we need not fear, but only trust in God. God will see us through the spiritual and physical storms we face in our daily lives. Trust in Him and do not allow anything or anyone to take your focus off of God. God can calm the storms and smooth out the rough spots in our lives. We only need to have faith in Him and not let doubt set in.

By Donna Shepard
Copyrighted 2006
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